29 March 2013: The Secretariat of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) has responded to Canada’s decision to withdraw as a party to the UNCCD.

On 28 March 2013, Canada notified the UN Secretary-General, which is the depositary of the UNCCD, of its decision to withdraw from the Convention. Based on the provisions of Article 38 of the Convention, “any such withdrawal shall take effect upon expiry of one year from the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of withdrawal, or on such later date as may be specified in the notification of withdrawal.”

The UNCCD indicates that “the Convention is stronger than ever before, which makes Canada’s decision to withdraw from the Convention all the more regrettable.” The UNCCD highlights Canada’s role in global efforts to address food security in developing countries and in the Convention itself, including the adoption in 2007 of the 10-Year Strategy to enhance implementation of the Convention as well as a results-based management approach. It indicates that Canada contributed 3.127 per cent of the UNCCD budget in 2011, which amounted to US$290,644.

The next gathering of the parties to the UNCCD will be from 9-19 April 2013, in Bonn, Germany, for the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference, the third special session of the Committee on Science and Technology (CSD S-3), and the eleventh session of the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC 11). [UNCCD Press Release] [UNCCD Convention Text] [UN Depositary Notification of Withdrawal] [UN Press Release] [IISDRS coverage of the UNCCD 2nd Scientific Conference, CST S-3 and CRIC 11]